Ed McKnight

Hi, I’m Ed, the Resident Economist here at Opes Partners. Day to day, I help New Zealanders understand why property is such a great solution to our retirement problem. I love my job because of its variety: one morning I’ll be writing a new education seminar, and the next I’m reading reports and keeping up to date with economic changes so that the team knows where the best opportunities are.

With over five years of experience as the economist at Opes Partners, I'm well-equipped to provide valuable insights. I'm also a proud member of the Institute of Directors.

In addition to my role here, I host the Property Academy Podcast, where I share my knowledge and passion for property investment. I've had the privilege of contributing articles to NZ Property Investor, Informed Investor, OneRoof, Stuff, and Business Desk. You might have even seen me on television, as I've appeared on The Project and Breakfast.

Beyond economics, I have a background in the performing arts, which fuels my love for art galleries, musicals, and shows in my spare time. Just as I believe in the power of property investment for financial security, I also believe in the enrichment of life through diverse experiences.

Qualifications and Education:

• Graduate Diploma in Economics 
• Graduate Certificate in Strategic Management
• Bachelor of Music
• Studied at the University of Auckland 
• Graduated from the University of Waikato 

Professional Experience:

• Opes – Resident Economist: 2019 – Present
• Member of the Institute of Directors

Notable Achievements:

• Host the Property Academy Podcast with over 1800 episodes
• Author of 'Wealth Plan' with Andrew Nicol
• Resident Economist of Opes Partners

Recent publications and mentions

One Roof - Six reasons you shouldn’t buy a house right now

3rd December, 2024

One Roof - The Kiwi economist who’s putting his money where his mouth is on house prices

10th November

Newstalk ZB - Ed McKnight: There's more than one way to buy a house

9th November

The Press - Getting In: Six-figure price boost for homes in popular Christchurch school zones

7th November

RNZ - The Auckland home that lost $100,000 in 20 years

6th November

The Panel with Sue Kedgley & Ed McKnight (Part 1), (Part 2)

31st October, 2024

The Press - Getting In: Six-figure price boost for homes in popular Christchurch school zones

7th November, 2024

RNZ - The Auckland home that lost $100,000 in 20 years

6th November, 2024

One News - Are there really 'secrets that banks don't want you to know'?

23rd October, 2024

One roof - What can you buy in Auckland for less than $500,000?

18th October, 2024

RNZ - How much are real estate salespeople really earning?

17th October, 2024

Otago Daily Times - How much less than asking price should you offer?

16th October, 2024
 

Stuff - Christopher Luxon puts another rental property on the market

11th October, 2024
 

The New Zealand Herald - Retirement Commission highlights downsizing challenges for New Zealanders

8th October, 2024

RNZ - Planning to downsize your home? Not so fast

8th October, 2024

Waikato Times - Do quicker build times = cheaper houses?

5th October, 2024

One roof - 24 hours v four months: How long does it take to sell a house in New Zealand?

2nd October
 

One Roof - Revealed: The renovations that can add up to $400,000 to the value of a home

21st September, 2024

Newstalk ZB - How many properties can an investor afford?

14th September, 2024

One Roof - Four pressing questions for anyone thinking of buying a house right now

5th September
 

RNZ - The Panel with Zoe George and Ed McKnight (Part 1), (Part 2)

22nd August, 2024
 

One Roof - Interest rate fight: Which bank is the king of cuts?

21st August, 2024

Stuff - Buying a house? Does a new build or existing home go up in value quicker?

11th August, 2024

One Roof - Revealed: Where Kiwis have the best chance of buying a house for less than $500,000

6th August, 2024

Newstalk ZB - Is there good news on the horizon for homeowners

3rd August, 2024

One Roof - What will you spend your tax cut on? Changes could boost borrowing power by $80,000

2nd August, 2024
 

The Post - Christopher Luxon puts investment property on the market

1st August, 2024

RNZ - Who are NZ's 1%, and how do you get there?

31st July, 2024
 

RNZ - Property investors rake in $500 billion over 30 years

19th July

RNZ - Why keeping your house on the market could be expensive - On Stuff, and The Otago Daily Times

25th July, 2024

NZ Herald - Do you really get a bargain on a mortgagee sale?
 

23rd July, 2024

One Roof - Fixed rates of 5%? The case for interest rates to fall hard and fall fast is growing

23rd July, 2024

Newstalk ZB - The Sunday Panel: How did we cope with the Crowdstrike outage?

21st July, 2024

RNZ - Property investors rake in $500 billion over 30 years - On The Otago Daily Times

19th July, 2024

One Roof - Worst June for Auckland house sales since records began - how sick is the market right now?

15th July, 2024

RNZ -  'Expectations need to be reset': Is golden age for property investment over?

11th July, 2024

One Roof - Revealed: The surprising odds of homeowners losing money

7th July, 2024

NZ Herald - House prices sliding- will Government plans to flood the market make it easier to get on the property ladder?

5th July, 2024

RNZ - The Panel with Ed McKnight and Claire Amos (Part 1), (Part 2)

4th July, 2024

RNZ - Auckland house sellers giving up rather than taking lower prices

3rd July, 2024

One Roof - Are Big Macs a shortcut to property wealth? Coach says follow McDonald's golden arches

30th June, 2024

One Roof - Why are homes in Wellington selling for 22% below RV?

27th June, 2024

The Post - The days of 10% rental yields for investors are gone

June 27th, 2024
 

Reality Check Radio - The one-stop-shop for property investors and strategies they use to safeguard their clients

25th June, 2024

One Roof - Revealed: How to buy a house with zero cash

23rd June, 2024

Newstalk ZB - Where can you find your first investment property?

23rd June, 2024
 

The Post - The return of the granny flat: The lowdown
 

22nd June, 2024
 

NZ Herald - How to get on the property ladder with Ed McKnight

17th June, 2024
 

RNZ - Granny flats: Do they pay off? Investors run the numbers

18th June, 2024

NZ Herald - Property Academy Podcasts Ed McKnight shares first home and investment advice with Paula Bennet: Ask Me Anything
 

16th June, 2024
 

Newstalk ZB - The Sunday Panel: Are we having a broad enough discussion about mining?
 

16th June, 2024

NZA - Location over luxury: Finding affordable homes in any area

4th June, 2024
 

RNZ - The Panel with Aimie Hines and Ed McKnight (Part 1), (Part 2)

30th May, 2024
 

Newstalk ZB - Who stands to miss out from the loss of the First Home Grant?

26th May, 2024
 

One Roof - Revealed: The cheapest streets in NZ's rich-lister suburb

17th May, 2024

One Roof - Entry-level homes in Auckland $200,000 cheaper - 'sellers want to make deals' - One Roof

4th May, 2024
 

One Roof - Are homes with bigger backyards more valuable
 

30th April, 2024
 

iHeart - Is the housing market dead or just resting?

21st April, 2024

NewstalkZB - How much do you need to save for retirement?

20th April, 2024

One Roof - What's the best month to score a property bargain? Data shows when prices are lower 

13th April , 2024

The Post - Auckland epicentre of mortgage crisis

6th April, 2024

One Roof - Interest rate deductibility: How much money will landlords be saving each year?

5th April, 2024
 

RNZ - The panel with Catherin Robertson and Ed McKnight, Part 2

4th April, 2024
 

MPA mag - Interest deductibility changes: Why some investors will be better off than others

23rd March, 2024
 

NewstalkZB - What more can the Government do to help landlords and renters?

17th March, 2024

The Post - Interest deductibility is back, but no rent cuts for tenants 

13th March, 2024
 

RNZ - Getting our money lending right

11th March, 2024
 

One Roof - How much money can you make as a property investor?

11th March, 2024
 

One Roof - Interest rate cuts: What the Reserve Bank said and should you believe it?

5th March, 2024
 

One Roof - The top five Kiwi towns where you can buy a home for less than $500,000

25th February, 2024
 

The Post - Higher premiums coming for disaster-prone homes: IAG

20th February, 2024
 

One Roof - The big rate discounts banks are offering in private

13th February, 2024
 

TVNZ Breakfast - Why are we seeing a surge in property listings?

5th February, 2024
 

Stuff - Here’s where house prices might lift off most

24th January, 2024
 

Business Desk - Reserve Bank at 'sixes and sevens' on debt-to-income

23rd January, 2024
 

One Roof -  Home loan crunch: How often does Reserve Bank stick to its guns on interest rates?

21st January, 2024
 

Business Desk - New lending rules ‘speed bump’ to regional recovery

18th January, 2024
 

The Post - Average home’s value dropped in 2023, but defied forecasts

16th January, 2024
 

Stuff - Couple selling house & lifestyle block for $250k, or will swap for camper van or truck

15th January, 2024

The Post - New controls on mortgage lending set to cement NZ’s reputation as unaffordable
 

14th January, 2024
 

The Post - Who will buy Ockham’s $1 million Auckland studio apartments?

13th January, 2024
 

Stuff - Here's how much of a discount house sellers are having to accept

10th January, 2024
 

One Roof - 12 housing market predictions for 2024

19th December, 2023
 

One Roof - Where house prices are rising fast – small towns vs big cities

12th December, 2023
 

One Roof - Why are the banks’ 2024 house price predictions so far apart?

1st December, 2023
 

Stuff - The Wellington house that lost $400,000

20th November, 2023
 

One Roof - Revealed: Where council rates are hurting property investors

30th October, 2023
 

One Roof - Buying a house? Here’s how much you should offer to pay

5th October, 2023
 

Stuff - By negotiation: How to know what to offer for your next house

24th August, 2023
 

Stuff - Why don't property investors like to buy new build homes?

20th August, 2023

Stuff - Reserve Bank likely to reveal first pause since OCR hiking began
 

12th July, 2023
 

Stuff - Surprise increase in property auction action as buyers move off sidelines

19th June, 2023
 

Stuff - The suburbs where house prices have been on the rise

16th June, 2023
 

Stuff - Up to 25% in 'mortgage prison' as rates and falling prices lock them into existing provider

15th June, 2023
 

Stuff - Newsable: Homeowners in suburbs with tumbling house prices advised 'not to panic'

14th June, 2023
 

Stuff - New debt rules are coming: Here's what that means for property buyers

25th May, 2023
 

Stuff - Too good to be true? Why these properties sold for less than $100k

7th April, 2023
 

Stuff - Falling house prices cause more optimism than concern

5th March, 2023